1 New York Times bestseller Beautiful Ruins, a father-son story that underscores why Jess Walter is not only among the funniest writers working today but among the most bighearted and humane.Jay is nothing like his hard-drinking, skirt-chasing, blue-collar dad. He’s college-educated, works as a graphic designer, prefers white wine to whiskey, and is gay—a fact that’s been lost, with so much else, in the growing fog of his father’s dementia. When the woman with whom his dad has lived for decades throws him out (thanks to a little neighborly infidelity), Jay moves his dad to Boise to live with him—at least temporarily—until he can find an eldercare facility for the old man. But the search turns out to be far more complicated than Jay realized—what place will not only care for his dad but let him be who he imperfectly is, bad habits and all? The answer to that question takes father and son to a 1950s-style motor inn, the Town & Country Senior Inn, where the only therapy on offer is nostalgia and happy hour starts at 3:30.In turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Town & Country describes a son’s greatest act of tolerance and acceptance in a world—a distinctly American one—that hasn’t always shown him the same. It’s a story, as only Jess Walter could write it, about all the ways we cannot help but love each other even when, owing to political, regional, and generational divisions, we do not, and maybe cannot, understand each other.

    This collection gathers together the best of her Pulitzer Prize-winning short fiction, including Pale Horse, Pale Rider, where a young woman lies in a fever during the influenza epidemic, her childhood memories mingling with fears for her fiancé on his way to war, and Noon Wine, a haunting story of tragedy and scandal on a small dairy farm in Texas. In all of the compelling stories collected here, harsh and tragic truths are expressed in prose both brilliant and precise.Selected and introduced by Sarah Churchwell, these 12 short stories by Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980) include the three long tales published as Pale Horse, Pale Rider in 1937 and widely considered to be her masterpiece: Old Mortality, Noon Wine and Pale Horse, Pale Rider.

    Josh, like many kids on the threshold of adulthood, eagerly dashes to the other side of the world unaware that his hunger for adventure is, on many levels, emotional escape in disguise. The mental illness that preys on his family and a childhood plagued by night terrors are stowaways that follow him to Norway alongside the promises of ‘free love’ and a year-long exploration of exotic landscapes. Norway proves to be a land of extremes: too much light, too much darkness, and perhaps even too much beauty — the kind that stabs laser-sharp into the soul. It’s a beauty that either kills you or teaches you how to survive by not looking away. Where the Light Enters is a subtle and graceful study of what it takes to stare terrifying truth in the eye and hold that gaze long enough to recognize a path to sanity, and love — even for those who have made you believe that neither is possible.” - Robynn Colwell, winner of Ireland’s 2013 Anam Cara Short Fiction Competition.

    When a decent, regular guy does his thieving neighbor a favor by driving him out to a long-neglected farm to steal an old panel truck, the two accidentally spark the ire of the hidden, quasi-occult residents of the place who prove eager to inflict Old Testament vengeance on just about every male within reach.  It's Me Too gone feral in a story of moral anxiety, misguided romance, and the age-old wages of sin.

    

    Unfortunately, her father forces her to find a suitable match. A fortuitous meeting at a ball leads her to make an elaborate plan with Lord Cavendish to convince everyone that they are courting. Dejected and heartbroken, Anthony Cavendish agrees to be part of Elizabeth's scheme, as he views it as an opportunity to make his lost love crawl back to him. What happens though when their scheme paves the way for true feelings to start blossoming? Will they both realise that their goals, as well as their hearts, are perfectly aligned?A Beauty for the Scarred DukeWhen the Earl of Upperton sells off his daughter Isabella as a bride for the disfigured Elliot Covington, Isabella feels terrified. Due to marrying a man she never met and whom she believed to be a monster, she truly believes her life is over. What she has yet to discover though, is that beneath the scars, there is a caring and kind gentleman. The moment they both realise they are meant to be together, outside powers will try to tear them apart forever. Will the Duke be able to let go of the pain and guilt that has swallowed him whole?A Charming Lady for the Intriguing BaronetIf Selina had her way, she would marry a commoner and live in happiness. Her encounter with Alexander, reinforces her belief that the life she has dreamed of could be in front of her. The experience is similar for Alexander, Baronet of Chesterfield, as he is convinced that Selina will be the woman who will bring hope into his life. When the beautiful woman discovers his true identity, she will reject him for the very reason that makes him the most eligible bachelor. Can the charming Baronet compensate for a rocky start and earn Selina’s trust?A Governess for the Brooding DukeWhen Georgette is left penniless after her father's sudden death, she becomes the governess of the orphan nieces of the Duke of Draycott. Soon, she finds her heart entrapped by her employer's presence, and yet she knows that she should suppress her emotions and compromise with her lower status. Little did she know that the Duke would see the light her caring presence has brought to his shadowy estate. Spiteful persons will threaten to keep Georgette away from his life forever. Will they find the courage to claim their feelings for each other?For the Love of a DuchessEngaged to be married to the handsome Miles Gainsborough, Eliza Ashton, could never imagine how easily happiness can turn into disaster. When her father confesses that she is the only hope of saving them from financial ruin, she finds herself set to marry the unbearable Duke of Lytton and Miles is nowhere to be seen. Her life will take an unexpected turn though when she meets Daniel Winchester, an accomplished attorney who will manage to break through the wall of thorns Eliza has started to build around her heart. Will Daniel win Eliza’s wounded trust?Kind Ella and the Charming DukeAfter her father’s death, Ella is left devastated. Her mother marries the Earl of Dandridge, a cold hearted father of two spoiled young ladies in search of a suitor. When Rufus is reported to be searching for a suitable bride, the Earl will plot the most appalling schemes to hide Ella away. Ella’s rebellious heart makes her defy the orders to abstain from the Duke’s masquerade ball. A defiance that will act in her favour, as that is where she will meet charming Rufus. Little did he know though that claiming her heart will be the most difficult mission in his life.If you love clean Regency romances that feature dynamic and inspiring women of the era and determined, yet charming, male protagonists, then you will love this collection!

    

    Doesn't matter how much our lives mismatch, this time, we are on the same page. I need a divorce too.”“Great. So, let's catch up at your sister’s fifth wedding anniversary and get this done with.”“Sounds perfect.”Message conveyed!! The phone line disconnects!!!Rajveer Chopra, CFO of a multinational telecom company in Australia, married his childhood enemy Ananya Mathur, a social media influencer for a fashion brand in New York, to satiate the long-lasting desires of the two families to see them together as a couple. If Rajveer loved East, Ananya preferred West. The only thing common between them was the passion for their respective profession and the countries they lived in. If Rajveer was adamant to stay in Australia forever, Ananya had no plans of leaving New York ever. They dragged their loveless marriage for ten months without seeing each other, with less than a dozen messages exchanged between them only on important events. Finally, they mutually agreed to put an end to this assault and move on. Breaking their family’s hearts would be difficult, but it was better than dragging a loveless marriage.What will happen when these two meet again in India during their one-month stay? Can they ever sacrifice their priorities for each other? Can love frame an equation between the two, or will they part ways amicably?A Standalone Enemies to Lovers Contemporary Romance Novel.

    The isolation is all but unbearable until a mysterious tenant moves into the house at the bottom of the hill. James Dunford has come from America but he won’t say why. He spends his days fixing up the old cottage and walking the beach with a stray dog that showed up on his doorstep.As the weeks pass, Tara tries to get to know James, but he resists her at every turn. And it's not until a local villager recognizes him from the news that she realizes his visit might be about more than just a vacation. On the night of a big storm, Tara finally confronts James about why he is there. But how can she expect him to be honest when she, too, is hiding her own dark secret?Set against the backdrop of the Hunger Strikes in Northern Ireland, Sunsets Never Wait is a story about love, loss, and the risks of hanging on to the past. No matter how much the world has let you down, there’s always a possibility for second chances.

    He loves his wife, Eve, and is devoted to their two small sons. His career as an architect is both creatively satisfying and financially rewarding. His house in suburban Pinecrest Manor is attractive and comfortable.   But then Larry sees a new neighbor standing at the school bus stop. Margaret Gault is young, blond, beautiful—and married. She’s everything Larry didn’t realize was missing from his life, and he must have her. Maggie tells Larry she’s never been in love. But this isn’t about love. It’s about need and desire. Touch and taste and risk. And lies.   Larry and Maggie surrender to lust, knowing their secret motel rendezvous and lunch-hour trysts will amount to nothing; they will always be strangers to each other. But actions have consequences. And sometimes consequences can be deadly.   Author Evan Hunter adapted his riveting novel of infidelity into a film starring Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak. A torrid tale of sexual compulsion and the secrets lurking beneath the most placid of surfaces, Strangers When We Meet is an early masterpiece from the creator of the bestselling 87th Precinct series.

    Laced throughout with intimate recollections of moments of crises and joy from the middle years of their relationship, the novel charts the ebb and flow of marriage, illuminating the mysteries and magic of marital love.Neither sentimental nor cynical, and written with an intense devotion to character and emotional suspense, A Happy Marriage reveals a partnership that brings maturity and great pleasure to the lives of two people. Bold, elegiac, and stunningly vivid, A Happy Marriage will break every reader’s heart—and perhaps infuse some marriages with greater love.

    Karen Rizzo wraps a timeless drama about the love between mothers and daughters in a fresh, snappy package for the social media age.” —CHRISTINA SCHWARZ, author of The Edge of the Earth and Drowning Ruth, an Oprah’s Book Club SelectionBefore there were Real Housewives and Tiger Moms, the was Ruth Sternberg, the hugely popular First Mother of Mommy Blogging—or, as Ruth’s daughter, Abbie prefers to call her, the First Lady of Cyber Exploitation.Eighteen year-old Abbie has finally found her way out of the limelight, by moving a solid five hundred miles away from Ruth and her “maternal instincts.” But when she hears that her ailing, beloved grandmother is moving in with Ruth, she suspects that her mother has found a new blog subject to exploit. Abbie kidnaps Grandma to save her from the same fate, and thus begins an uproarious battle of wills. Famous Baby wisely and hilariously explores mother love, identity, and the hazards of parental over-sharing in the social media age.Karen Rizzo, who lives with her actor husband and two children in Los Angeles, California, is the author of Things to Bring, S#!T to Do… and Other Inventories of Anxiety, a memoir centered around her penchant for lists. Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Salon, Fit Pregnancy, and women’s humor anthologies, and her plays have been staged at several theatres. Famous Baby is her first novel.

    

    

    When her parents try to marry her to a man who is far from her idea of a perfect match, Milly is horrified. In a fit of despair and with her protests falling on deaf ears, she decides to run away. Doleman's Hills becomes not only her refuge but the place where she stumbles upon a handsome stranger who helps her build a new life. As she gets to know him, she is surprised to realize he might be exactly who she has been longing for all along. While Milly starts making steps towards a rose-colored future though, danger may be lurking around the corner. Will she find the courage to stand up both for herself and her newfound love?Oliver Townsend might be a great scientist but more than anything he enjoys being the town's clocksmith. He prefers fixing watches and small gadgets rather than running experiments with his uncle at the copper mine. His uneventful life is about to take a sudden turn when he spots a beautiful young woman looking lost at the train station. He is immediately captivated by Milly's enquiring mind and gentle nature and in no time he starts courting her. Yet before long things begin to go very wrong for Oliver. His uncle goes missing and his budding romance with Milly is jeopardized by an unexpected arrival in town. With his uncle's life and his own heart at risk, will Oliver overcome the challenges ahead before it's too late?With complicated secrets and life-threatening truths coming to light, Milly and Oliver's relationship may be over before it even starts. Daunted by the danger surrounding them, will they be able to find their way out of this perilous maze at each other's side? Will their blossoming love withstand the pressures of so many forces pulling them apart?"The Clocksmith of Her Dreams" is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.